Report of Indians stealing mine products (exact mine and Mineral not given). Mentions Tarahumaras living in San Jose. Indication of preexisting animosity between Tarahumares and Apaches. Reports of Apaches chasing Tarahumares, Spaniards. Last document in this group describes in rich detail Apache ceromony, apparently a Rite of Passage for Young men, especially son of captain. Describes Apache dress, ornamentation, formal movements, prayers. Seems mostly objective observations. (A. Dean, March 1989)

Documents reporting Apache raids, especially against haciendas, pueblos, and small farms. Milicia convoys attempt to attack Indian camps. Each incident described in detail, recording livestock, Spaniards, and Indians captured or killed, general pattern of attacks. Several references to Tarahumaras living in pueblos, serving as military messengers, being preferentially attacked by Apaches. Description of Tarahumaras, individual Apaches. (A. Dean, March 1989)

Reports of Indian raids in Nueva Vizcaya, especially those on haciendas, ranches, and mines. Each incident described in detail, recording livestock (mules, horses, cattle) stolen or destroyed, Spaniards and Indians captured or killed. Gives good idea of Apache pattern of raiding. Lists deputies of each district and their attempts at defense. (A. Dean, March 1989)

Reports of Indian raids, especially against ranches, haciendas, and mines. Each incident described in detail, recording livestock (mostly mules, horses, cattle) stolen or destroyed, Spaniards and Indians captured or killed. Gives good idea of Apache pattern of raiding. Lists deputies of each district, attempts at defense. (A. Dean, March 1989)

Navarro and Santos have been accused by Arredondo and marques de Aguaio of extracting silver from two mines in San Gregorio de Mazapil without a proper licence and without paying taxes. They deny these charges and ask for an authorization to continue exploiting them. The same area is also claimed by the hacienda Nopalitas, that has been using it for grazing mules. Several persons are called to declare, and two inspectors are sent to the area. Finally the authorities order Navarro and Santos to abandon the mines. (A. Nilesen, January 1990)

French trespassing into the Tejas provinces by San Dionis under pretext of buying livestock for Luisiana. They are believed to be looking for more land to occupy and trade with the Indians. Translation of San Dionis observations and map from San Juan presidio to Diego Ramon's at the Rio Grande cause Audiencia general to approve the establishing of missions in the Tejas provinces in order to maintain control over the Indians there. Descriptions of fertile lands and friendly Indians. Trade is to be stopped with the French. Supply lists and salary expenses for military escort for missionaries. Ramon and Espinosa travel from Saltillo to the Tejas or Asinai provinces with 75 people comprising of soldiers, missionaries and civilian men, women and children. They travel from February to April and establish 4 missions. Heads of 4 missions declare supplies needed to equip Indian nations absorbed by missions listed. (E. Wilson, March 1990)

Autos concerning the reported discovery of Almagres along the Colorado River in southern Texas in 1755. Miranda sets out with Ramon, Seguin and a group of men from the presidios San Antonio, Bahia del Espiritu Santo and San Xavier and a couple of Indians as guides. After a month of travel north from San Antonio, the group returns early March 1756 with a sample of the Almagres. Summary of trip, development potential of the mine area for settlers and the granting of a portion of the mines to the men, from ff. 17 - 19. Testing is performed on top and deep samples to determine quality and consistency. Small amounts of silver, greta, plomo and Magistral are found. Debates as to costs, practicality and richness of mine based on experienced Miner's opinion. (E. Wilson, November 1989)

Documents contain information resulting formal establishment of Santa Maria. Provides good geographical description of area and distances to other Villas. Escandon went to recognize families joined by olarazan. Escandon and others conduct review of well and other conditions. Contains complete list of families and members of Escuadra including names, ages and property owned. Description of relations with Indians. says San Marcos has most abundant water. Contains description of possible drilling depths and composition of each level. Review of timber, minerals and land says all plentiful. Cold climate. Commerce with Llera possible for supplies and minerals. Need mission for Indians congregated in area. Escandon officially establishes sta. Maria close to San Marcos. Provides instructions for construction of homes, provision of more cattle and seed, and for administration of property and mines. Contains city plan. Last document contains list of Villas established in Nuevo Santander including captains, missions, Indians, families, soldiers and Patron saints. (M. Dannemiller, April 1989)

Escandon says extreme scarcity of grain a problem for all areas but makes planned campaign here impossible. Lack of grain has caused stagnation of growth in some areas. Mines in operation. Minerals abundant. Construction of well in progress. says Indians of Tamaulipa friendly. Indians of south go to Horcasitias to receive corn rations. In north, Indians engage in theft, murder and other hostile activities. (M. Dannemiller, March 1989)

Signed. Concerns defense of Escandon; begins with minimization of charges and a briefly history of Escandons' ascendant career, merits from king; Escandon was in arms and participating in the ejection of British in Laguna in 1720; 1728, was named by virrey as sargento mayor later virrey gave him the title of Coronel; November 15, 1741, Escandon was named as teniente general de la Sierra gorda he gave missions to Franciscanos religious from San Diego de pachuca and San Fernando; he founded and establish four villages with no cost to the royal hacienda; September 3, 1746 in a royal decree full of eulogys virrey gives to Escandon all responsibilities in the mission of pacification de los barbaros de la Sierra gorda and he is named lugar teniente de la Costa del Seno Mexicano; December 1748, founded the first village in area which by 1759 had 20 villages; on folio 182 details of population; in 1757 virrey sent comission to investigate colony; in 1765 virrey orders Escandon to found five new villages in strategic places to stop the continual Indians attacks; strongest defense allegation is envy of Resendi family against Escandon and their plan to get him out of the colony and appeal to the virrey for the titles for their family; in folio 229 is a Spaniards description of Indians; defense by Escandon who defends himself charge by charge; since Escandon was commissioned by the virrey y la junta real de hacienda, they knew that it was a project that was subject to failure, in other words he was not obligated to succeed in his attempt; in selecting captains Escandon never chose the most specialized but selected the ones that were dedicated to the well being of the village; all that the fiscal imputed to Escandon was never supported with real evidence only anonimous statements from someone who heard rumors but had no hard evidence; not even fray Garcia was found in his mission to testify against Escandon to the auditors Osorio and Palacio; in regard to the murder of Indians by Escandon's captains, the fiscal never found witnesses; some of the crimes were investigated by Escandon and he found that the actions benefited the pacification and well being of the village. Escandon repremanded the captain and notified the capitania general. The women and children were placed in missions when the men were murdered or sent to a presidio but never were they sold and sent to Querataro in a collera as the accusations assert; in treatment of criminals, Escandon always followed the royal laws which permitted pardons of criminals if they serve the king. These people were serving the king by risking their lifes in the establishment of the colony; in regard to his rejection of Apaches, he argues it is well known that Apaches don't want anything except trading, and that Spain suffers terribles consequences when it assumes Apaches will remain peaceful in missions. He argued that too often they will suddenly murder, rape and destroy a village. For this reason Escandon avoided Apaches. On March 29, 1763, the royal cedula expired which authorized captain trenda y el ingeniero de la Camara alta to make the first audit of Escandon and nothing wrong was found except for the plot of the Resendi family, 17800 question the official informe by saying that it was corrupted by la voz de oro y Plata de Escandon pudo mas; but in the second audit nobody knew about it, not even the fiscal o el auditor and the results were no different. Escandon is exonerated from all charges. Descendants of Escandon have the right to claim what Escandon left them. (D. Bautista, November 1989)